Q & A with Dr. Rani Bhat Honeymoon Cystitis What is honeymoon cystitis? Inflammation of the bladder that happens after a woman's first sexual encounter or after a period of abstinence is known as "honeymoon cystitis." It affects women almost exclusively and can occur at any age. As with any type of urinary tract infection, honeymoon cystitis is generally caused by bacteria. There are normal bacteria that tend to live on the skin around the anus and during sexual intercourse, these bacteria can be transferred into the urethra causing cystitis. Half of all women get cystitis at least once in their lives. Honeymoon cystitis remains more common among young women in their twenties but can also happen to women of any age group when they start having sex again after not having done so for a long period of time. Why do women get cystitis after intercourse? The rubbing during sex can cause bacteria from the genital area and anus to come in co...